Yamaha 2013 AV Receivers Engineered By Ear

Yamaha introduced its 2013 AVENTAGE network AV receivers, engineered by ear. The 9.2 channel RX-A3030 and RX-A2030, as well as the 7.2 channel RX-A1030 posed a challenge to Yamaha's R&D team, who sought out and picked components and technologies by ear.

The performance cornerstones of the 2013 AVENTAGE receivers are ESS Technology SABRE32 ES9016 and SABRE ES9006 digital-to-analog converters. Yamaha engineers listened to each option before choosing the components that delivered the best performance.

The AV receiver is the centerpiece of a home theater, and Yamaha knows that the user interface is critical. These AVENTAGE receivers offer flexible whole house entertainment, enabling the viewing of two HD audio/video sources simultaneously in two rooms via HDMI zone switching. Wide connectivity to music is provided by AirPlay, Pandora, and Rhapsody music streaming services, vTuner Internet radio, Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) and DLNA certified components. Yamaha's AV Controller App for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, Android and Kindle Fire devices provides comprehensive system control (power, volume, source, DSP Mode, SCENE selection, etc.) from anywhere inside or outside of the home.

Yamaha's new AVENTAGE models are available at authorized Yamaha AV dealers, with the following MSRPs: RX-A1030 ($1,199.95), RX-A2030 ($1,699.95) and RX-A3030 ($2,199.95).

Receivers are sort of the thankless workhorses of the AV world. They aren't glamorous like an HDTV or cool like a pair of speakers. If your home theater was a rock band, the receiver would be the drummer (the sub would be the bassist of course . . .) But there's still plenty to love about these big metal boxes since they keep things humming so we can sit back an enjoy some entertainment. Now, on to #1 . . .

The Technological Evolution of the AV Receiver

1. McIntosh 1900
People know McIntosh today from its long legacy of audiophile products including tube amps like the legendary 275 but they also were early players with stereo receivers like this McIntosh 1900.

The Technological Evolution of the AV Receiver

2. Sansui 771You might have forgotten the name Sansui or the fact that you bought one of the stereo receivers back in the day at a Crazy Eddie’s but they are foundational products that were built like a tank.

The Technological Evolution of the AV Receiver

3. Marantz 2258B
Back in the day of Saul Marantz, his namesake brand made some of the most bad-ass receivers money could buy. This 2258B has more switches than one of Snoop Lion’s Impalas.

The Technological Evolution of the AV Receiver

4. NAD 3020
More of today’s audiophile’s got their start with the NAD 3020 than any other receiver out there. It was a minimally designed component that offered few frills but superior sound - a value proposition that sells well to this day.

The Technological Evolution of the AV Receiver

5. Telefunken TRX 3000
You didn’t think we were going to skip a quadraphonic receiver did you? The Telefunken is a German made receiver that's about as cool as they come with more switches than the Space Shuttle plus four-channel output.

The Technological Evolution of the AV Receiver

6. Onkyo TX-SV919THX
This Onkyo AV receiver from 1993 was one of the first with DTS as well as THX certification. If you wanted to know “where’s the goat?” from your Laserdisc of Jurassic Park - this was the receiver that you needed back in the day.

The Technological Evolution of the AV Receiver

7. Denon 3110
One of the first 7.1 receivers to come to market, this Denon beast packs a lot of amplification under the hood. Before receivers like this, you needed an outboard amp to have any hope of this type of sound but after the AVR 3110, it was all in one chassis.

The Technological Evolution of the AV Receiver

8. Sony STRDA5800ES
Forget 7.1 - how about 9.2 channels, 4K video up conversion and a Control4 brain built right into your AV receiver’s chassis. Sony delivers this today.

The Technological Evolution of the AV Receiver

9. Integra DTR 80.3
Talk about more features than any other receiver, this “network” receiver from Integra is as much a LAN device as it is a preamp or amp. Spotify, Audyssey, 9.2 performance, WiFi connectivity and more only start to scratch the surface of what today’s large format receivers can offer.